Trey Anastasio avoids jail term

Anastasio, 42, of Richmond, Vermont, is facing seven charges stemming from an arrest last year for, among other things, drug possession and impaired driving. He has a court appearance scheduled for Friday.

If convicted on all charges, Anastasio could face up to 14 years in prison.

However, prosecutors have offered to have him serve 12 to 15 months in New York's drug court program, make weekly court appearances, submit to drug testing and perform community service if he pleads guilty to a felony charge of attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, District Attorney Kevin Kortright said.

"Most people accept that," Kortright told The Burlington Free Press newspaper. "I don't think he wants to go to jail or prison. Usually it's either jail time, or do the program.

Anastasio's lawyer did not return a call by The Associated Press seeking comment Thursday.

Police spotted Anastasio weaving on a state road Dec. 15, and he failed a roadside sobriety test, prosecutors said.

He pleaded not guilty to lesser charges in early January, but Kortright presented the case to a grand jury, which returned the more serious allegations.

Anastasio is charged with possession of a prescription painkiller that belonged to another person, driving under the influence of drugs and driving under the influence of alcohol, all of which are felonies. He also is charged with a misdemeanor count of possessing heroin.

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